Methods for detecting fluorescent light with de-multiplexing imaging arrays of a compact detection module in a flow cytometer

Abstract

A method includes launching, from an optical fiber, fluorescent light of differing wavelengths generated by different fluorochromes attached to particles in a sample fluid; magnifying an image size from an end of the optical fiber to a first dichroic filter of a row of a plurality of dichroic filters in a de-multiplexing imaging array; alternatively reflecting the fluorescent light between the plurality of dichroic filters and a plurality of micro-mirrors to collimate the fluorescent light on odd numbered dichroic filters and re-image the fluorescent light on even numbered dichroic filters; band passing different wavelength ranges of the fluorescent light at each of the plurality of dichroic filters to de-multiplex the wavelength spectrum of the wavelength range of the fluorescent light; and detecting fluorescent light in each of the different wavelength ranges to count a number of each of the different particles in the sample fluid.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method comprising:
 launching, from an optical fiber, a fluorescent light of differing wavelengths generated by different fluorochromes attached to different particles in a sample fluid;   magnifying an image size from an end of the optical fiber to a first dichroic filter of a row of a first plurality of dichroic filters in a first de-multiplexing imaging array;   alternatively reflecting a first wavelength range of the fluorescent light between the first plurality of dichroic filters and a first plurality of micro-mirrors to collimate the fluorescent light on odd numbered dichroic filters and re-image the fluorescent light on even numbered dichroic filters;   band passing different wavelength ranges of the first wavelength range of the fluorescent light at each of the first plurality of dichroic filters to de-multiplex the wavelength spectrum of the first wavelength range of the fluorescent light; and   detecting fluorescent light in each of the different wavelength ranges of the first wavelength range associated with each fluorochrome tagged to a particle to count a number of each of the different particles in the sample fluid.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 prior to magnifying, blocking laser light launched from the optical fiber from interfering with detecting the fluorescent light. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 prior to magnifying, collimating the fluorescent light launched from the optical fiber and focusing the fluorescent light onto the first dichroic filter of the first plurality of dichroic filters.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 prior to detecting, focusing the different wavelength ranges of the fluorescent light into a first plurality of light detectors.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 prior to launching,
 receiving the fluorescent light generated by fluorochromes excited by laser light with a collection lens; 
 converting from a first numeric aperture to a second numeric aperture less than the first numeric aperture to match the numeric aperture of the optical fiber; and 
 coupling the fluorescent light into an opposite end of the optical fiber to flexibly direct it to a compact detection module. 
   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 splitting the fluorescent light into the first wavelength range of the fluorescent light and the second wavelength range of the fluorescent light;   magnifying the image size from the end of the optical fiber to a first dichroic filter of a row of a second plurality of dichroic filters in a second de-multiplexing imaging array;   alternatively reflecting the second wavelength range of the fluorescent light between the second plurality of dichroic filters and a second plurality of micro-mirrors to collimate the fluorescent light on odd numbered dichroic filters and re-image the fluorescent light on even numbered dichroic filters;   band passing different wavelength ranges of the second wavelength range of the fluorescent light at each of the second plurality of dichroic filters to de-multiplex the wavelength spectrum of the second wavelength range of the fluorescent light; and   detecting fluorescent light in each of the different wavelength ranges of the second wavelength range associated with each fluorochrome tagged to a particle to count a number of each of the different particles in the sample fluid.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein
 a focal length of the first plurality of micro-mirrors and a distance of separation between the first plurality of dichroic filters and the first plurality of micro-mirrors provides a telescopic effect along the chain of micro-mirrors to collimate the fluorescent light on odd numbered dichroic filters and re-image the fluorescent light on even numbered dichroic filters.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein
 a focal length of the first and second plurality of micro-mirrors and a respective distance of separation between the first and second plurality of dichroic filters and the first and second plurality of micro-mirrors provides a telescopic effect along the chain of micro-mirrors to collimate the fluorescent light on odd numbered dichroic filters and re-image the fluorescent light on even numbered dichroic filters.